If you want to reduce your ping when playing League of Legends, use a VPN. There are many benefits of using a VPN while gaming, and lowering ping is one of them.
High ping is detrimental to gaming and can affect latency, causing in-game response delays. However, a League of Legends VPN can help prevent this to ensure that your in-game responses are never affected by extremely high ping.
This article looks at how VPNs can help League of Legends gamers lower ping and have smooth gameplay at all times. Keep reading to find out which are the best League of Legends VPNs and the other benefits that they provide gamers.
If high ping is ruining your League of Legends gaming, then you can use a VPN to get it below the acceptable 100ms ping amount. Firstly, you’ll need to get a good VPN that can lower ping – we recommend NordVPN, Surfshark VPN, or one of the other VPNs on the list below.
You’ll then need to set up the VPN on your gaming device. If you play League of Legends on Windows or Mac, you’ll be able to download a compatible VPN app that is easy to set up.
After setting up the VPN, open up the app and head to the settings. To ensure that you have lower ping, you should first change the VPN protocol. For example, NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol offers extremely fast speeds when gaming, which can lower ping and simultaneously protect your connection. Other good protocols to lower ping with League of Legends include IKEv2 and WireGuard.
Once you have changed your protocol, we recommend using the ‘Quick Connect’ button which most VPN services offer. This allows you to connect to the fastest server possible for the best gaming speeds and lowest ping.
When the VPN connection is up and running you can start playing League of Legends with lower ping!
We’ve tried and tested many VPNs to find the services that effectively lower ping. Below are our top choices.
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 6 |
|---|---|
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Boxee Box, Chromecast, ChromeOS, FireOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Roku, Windows |
| Streaming: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouSee, DR TV, Disney+, Plex, Kodi, NBC, ESPN, BBC iPlayer, TV Player, HBO Go, HBO Max, Apple TV |
| Browser Extentions: | Firefox, Safari, Chrome |
Pros:
Fast connection
Zero-log policy
More than 5000 worldwide servers
Cons:
Few payment options
Split tunneling unavaible
6 Devices Maximum
Capabilities:
Unlimited Bandwidth
Kill Switch
Split Tunneling
Zero Data Logging
Free Version / Trial
Mobile App
Browser Extention
Netflix Approved
Firestick Compatible
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services on the market, and it makes some strong claims about its performance. Unlike many other VPNs, NordVPN’s promises are actually delivered upon.
There are super-fast connection speeds and lower ping during gaming thanks to its NordLynx protocol, no matter where you connect from. This means that you can leave the VPN running in the background while you play League of Legends without any issues. NordVPN offers an extensive network of VPN servers, too, with over 5100 spread across 59 countries worldwide. This means you’ll be able to find a secure connection wherever you are.
The VPN offers secure protection against DDoS threats, too, and it will mitigate data traffic if your server becomes overwhelmed. There is military-grade AES-256 bit encryption meaning your gaming traffic will always be protected.
There is a transparent, independently audited no-logs policy, which states that the provider will never store personal user data. This means that you can rest assured that your privacy is securely protected when you’re enjoying League of Legends.
NordVPN isn’t just a great League of Legends VPN. NordVPN is an excellent streaming VPN too. If you want to access geo-restricted content on sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, you can.
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 5 |
|---|---|
| OS support: | Android, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Streaming: | |
| Browser Extentions: |
Pros:
Plenty of payment methods
24 hours live chat support
30 days money back guarantee
Cons:
More expensive than competitors
Only 5 simultaneous connections
No servers in Russia
Capabilities:
Unlimited Bandwidth
Kill Switch
Split Tunneling
Zero Data Logging
Free Version / Trial
Mobile App
Browser Extention
Netflix Approved
Firestick Compatible
ExpressVPN is arguably the best League of Legends VPN on the market. It offers excellent gaming performance, and it’s a great streaming VPN too.
ExpressVPN delivers an excellent network of over 3000 servers across 160 locations around the world. This means that you should find a fast server connection no matter where you are located. The VPN offers some of the fastest and most reliable VPN speeds, too, making it an excellent choice for League of Legends. You can use ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol to lower ping while gaming and avoid latency.
The VPN offers a host of secure privacy features, including military-grade AES-256 bit encryption and private DNS on every server. This means that you won’t need to worry about DDoS attacks while enjoying League of Legends.
There is wide device support with dedicated apps for macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux and manual setup guides for gaming consoles like Xbox and PlayStation. You can play League of Legends on any device with this VPN.
If you also want to use a VPN to access geo-restricted streaming content when you’re not gaming, there is powerful unblocking potential with ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN supports popular streaming services, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, HBO, and more. This means that you can seamlessly stream your favorite overseas content.
ExpressVPN does cost slightly more than most other VPNs on the market, but its long-term annual plan is still relatively cost-effective. If you’re not completely happy with the service provided, there is a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Streaming: | |
| Browser Extentions: |
Pros:
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Unblocks streaming services
Based in privacy-friendly country
Cons:
No phone support
No 12 month plan
Few payment methods
Capabilities:
Unlimited Bandwidth
Kill Switch
Split Tunneling
Zero Data Logging
Free Version / Trial
Mobile App
Browser Extention
Netflix Approved
Firestick Compatible
Surfshark will offer secure protection for your online activities, allowing you to focus on your gaming. Play League of Legends in complete privacy and security, and hide your real IP locations and location while chatting in Discord. The VPN’s powerful unblocking capabilities will allow you to access overseas games, updates, and features without restrictions or censorship.
And, thanks to strong military-grade encryption and support for secure and fast protocols like IKEv2, Wireguard, and Shadowsocks, you’ll be able to lower ping while playing League of Legends too.
Surfshark is located in the British Virgin Islands, a country that enjoys excellent data privacy laws. This means that the VPN is not obligated to store or share user activity logs. In its no-logging policy, the VPN states that it will never collect or store IP addresses, browsing history, session data, or VPN connection timestamps. The only information that is stored is your email address and payment details meaning your use of the VPN on League of Legends won’t be linked back to you.
A single subscription with Surfshark offers support for an unlimited number of simultaneous connections. This means that you only need one Surfshark VPN account to protect all of your devices. This makes Surfshark an extremely cost-effective choice considering that most VPNs only offer support for 5 simultaneous connections.
There is wide device support, too, meaning that you can easily protect all of your gaming devices. Surfshark will always have you covered with dedicated apps for macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux, as well as easy to set up DNS for devices like Xbox and PlayStation that do not typically support a VPN connection.
Surfshark comes with a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee, too, meaning that you can test the VPN for League of Legends on all of your gaming devices before making a decision. If you’re not completely happy with the service provided, contact Surfshark’s customer support team, request a refund, and they will oblige, no questions asked.
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, ChromeOS, FireOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One |
| Streaming: | |
| Browser Extentions: |
Pros:
Unlimited simultaneous connections
24/7 customer support
Unblocks Netflix
Cons:
Based in US (Five Eyes)
Limited payment options
Doesn't unblock BBC iPlayer
Capabilities:
Unlimited Bandwidth
Kill Switch
Split Tunneling
Zero Data Logging
Free Version / Trial
Mobile App
Browser Extention
Netflix Approved
Firestick Compatible
IPVanish is an excellent choice for League of Legends as it comes with a host of functional features for gamers. The North American service delivers super-fast connection speeds, especially on US connections. On average, IPVanish server connections reach speeds of up to 200Mbs, which is more than enough for playing your online favorite game without lag or high ping.
There is support for Wi-Fi routers with IPVanish VPN, meaning that you can automatically protect your gaming rig and any other device connected to your Wi-Fi network. IPVanish also offers unlimited simultaneous connections, meaning that there’s no limit to how many devices you can protect. You could, in theory, even share the VPN with your friends and family too.
The IPVanish interface offers a lot of information about each server on its network, which is useful when finding the optimal server to enhance your gaming experience and lower ping. You can filter servers by ping, download speed, location, and more.
If you are a streaming fan, IPVanish is a decent choice for that too. Although it does not support BBC iPlayer, it will enable access to a host of other location-restricted content on services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube, and more.
If you run into any issues while setting up the VPN for League of Legends, there is 24/7 live chat customer support. The annual plan costs just $4.99 a month for the first year.
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 7 |
|---|---|
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Roku, Windows, Xbox 360 |
| Streaming: | |
| Browser Extentions: |
Pros:
Located in privacy-friendly Romania
Accepts Bitcoin as a payment option
NoSpy server network
Cons:
Limited Netflix unblocking capability
No phone support
Uses virtual servers
Capabilities:
Unlimited Bandwidth
Kill Switch
Split Tunneling
Zero Data Logging
Free Version / Trial
Mobile App
Browser Extention
Netflix Approved
Firestick Compatible
Cyberghost is another one of the best VPN apps if you want to protect your gaming activity while playing League of Legends. There is support for PlayStation, Xbox, and other gaming devices.
If your League of Legends games are affected by high ping or latency, select a server near your actual geographical location for fast connection speeds and reduced ping. With more than 7200 servers across 91 countries, you’ll never be stuck for choice. CyberGhost will even prevent ISP throttling by masking your real IP address and encrypting your internet activities.
Since CyberGhost can bypass location restrictions, users can access different game stores worldwide to buy games for less or download games that are not available in your region. This makes it a VPN service with multiple benefits.
A single subscription with the VPN provider enables protection for up to 7 simultaneous connections, which is slightly more than the industry average and likely sufficient for most users.
If you require the protection of a VPN on all your gaming devices, download CyberGhost on your Wi-Fi router. The CyberGhost website features a helpful manual setup guide for routers. Alternatively, you can purchase a pre-installed CyberGhost DD-WRT router.
All CyberGhost subscription plans come with an industry-leading 45-day money-back guarantee. This means that you can test the VPN when you play League of Legends before making your decision. If you’re not completely happy, request a refund.
If you plan on using a VPN for League of Legends, fast server connection speeds will be your priority for an enjoyable gaming experience. You need to also ensure that the VPN offers good protocols to guarantee lower ping during gaming sessions.
The VPN should also come with advanced encryption and security features for protection against DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service Attack) attacks. DDoS attacks can overload your server with requests and get you kicked out of a game. Fortunately, a VPN hides your real IP address to prevent DDoS attacks.
Encryption will also hide your League of Legends activity from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). This means you can prevent ISP bandwidth throttling, which can also help lower ping and increase gaming speeds.
It is also a good idea to look for a VPN that comes with server locations worldwide, so you can access geo-restricted games from abroad or play against other opponents on local servers. Moreover, having more servers will ensure you can connect to a nearby server for a fast connection and low ping.
Make sure your chosen VPN is compatible with all of your gaming platforms and devices. Finally, we recommend choosing a VPN that offers a generous money-back guarantee so that you can test the VPN with League of Legends before committing to a paid plan.
Some VPNs may increase ping. However, all of the VPNs listed above will help to reduce ping while playing League of Legends. Furthermore, there are a few things you can do to ensure that you lower ping.
If you are connected to a VPN server near your actual geographical location, you shouldn’t notice any reduction in speeds. By using the Auto or Quick Connect feature that most VPNs offer, you can guarantee you are connected to the fastest server, which will help reduce ping.
Another way to ensure that your League of Legends VPN doesn’t increase ping is by changing the VPN tunneling protocol. We recommend using the WireGuard or IKEv2 protocol since both of these are great for reducing speeds and lowering ping.
Free VPNs are a good alternative to premium services if you’re on a low budget. While free VPNs are usually great at unblocking overseas content, they aren’t great when it comes to increasing speeds or providing security. Furthermore, a lot of free VPNs won’t be able to reduce ping in League of Legends. We recommend that to lower ping on League of Legends, you should use a premium VPN from the list above.
Unlike many other gaming and streaming platforms, League of Legends does not ban users for employing VPNs during gameplay.
Yes, a VPN can lower ping during gameplay and streamline your connection to the internet.
There are many free VPNs that work with LoL, but paid VPNs deliver faster speeds and an overall better gaming experience.
Hi, I'm Cliff. I'm based in Cleveland, Ohio, with my wife and two kids.
I have a keen interest in cybersecurity and have been writing about it for around a decade now. Due to my background in computer science, I am familiar ...
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